IF NOT ABAD

HOUSE independent minority bloc leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez challenged Malacañang yesterday to identify its officials who should be punished in connection with the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) which the Supreme Court has ruled unconstitutional.

Romualdez, president of the Philippine Constitution Association, made this statement after President Aquino rejected Friday the resignation of Budget Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad Jr.

“If President Aquino will keep Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) brains Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, then Malacañang should better identify with dispatch who should be held accountable or be penalized for the wrong use of savings,” Romualdez stressed.

Romualdez pointed out that somebody has to suffer the consequences after the DAP was declared unconstitutional by the high tribunal.

“The Constitution, the supreme law of the land, was violated. When a law is violated, the violator must be punished. No one breaks the law and walks away untouched, as if he didn’t do anything wrong,” Romualdez explained.

“That would be the height of disrespect for the Constitution and of mockery of the justice system,” Romualdez said.

Romualdez reiterated to the people that good faith or good intention is not an excuse to violate the Constitution, or any law for that matter.

“Neither does ignorance of the law excuse anyone from breaking it. If we will let the DAP pass on without anyone being held accountable, then nothing will stop anyone in government from violating the Constitution again or any other law by simply invoking good faith or good intentions,” Romualdez warned.

Romualdez reiterated his challenge to Malacañang to order Abad and the Commission on Audit (CoA) to come out immediately with all the records or documents of DAP funded projects for public scrutiny.

“Malacañang continues to insist that DAP funds were used in good faith and for good intentions. Then, let’s see the proof of those good intentions and good faith so that the truth will finally come out once and for all,” Romualdez added.